Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 15 October 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says its more than 32,000 members who work in district health boards (DHBS) have accepted their latest employer offer, with 83 percent voting yes. Voting closed at 12 Noon today.

Lead Advocate and Industrial Adviser David Wait said he is really pleased that the DHBs took the advice of the Employment Relations Authority after mediation last month and finally put forward an offer acceptable to NZNO DHB members.

“We have been in negotiations for 15 months, so it is great to receive something that both addresses pay issues and makes important progress towards safe staffing.

“Most of the pay increase comes in the form of down payments on our Pay Equity settlement, a separate process due for completion by the end of November, but the early lump sum payments are substantial.

“We also have a DHB contractual obligation to safe staffing, with a legally enforceable escalation pathway when members’ concerns aren’t addressed. Together with new employment commitments these are steps towards addressing the staffing crisis and making nursing an attractive profession again.”

Wait said he was extremely proud of the way members had engaged with this campaign for better wages and conditions – how they’d stuck it out and managed consistently to come to a consensus over many months.

“There is still a lot to do as we work with the DHBs to implement the changes, and members remain wary of their employers’ promises, so the DHBs have a real opportunity here to begin regaining the trust of their employees.

“How the DHBs respond regarding safe staffing over the next year will play a big role in our next collective agreement negotiations, so I encourage them to take this opportunity to do that.”

Today’s ratified MECA applies to the period 1 August 2020 to 31 October 2022. NZNO will next initiate bargaining late next year.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation Media Release, 11 October 2021.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation supports the health worker vaccine mandate as a crucial support for at risk communities.

NZNO Industrial Services Manager Glenda Alexander said that this mandate reflects the significant risk that the Delta strain poses to Aotearoa New Zealand.

“While we recognise the need to balance peoples’ right to choice, as health workers we have a responsibility to follow the best health evidence and most importantly to keep our communities safe.

“The best thing we can do to minimise the spread of COVID in our hospitals and in our communities, is to get vaccinated.”

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 1 October 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) says the International Day of Older Persons, held each year on 1 October, is an important time to celebrate our elders by making sure they are safe, respected and well cared for.

One crucial way to do this is to address the long standing challenges facing the Aged Residential Care sector.

NZNO member and health care assistant Judy Tomkinson says she and her colleagues just want to provide the best care possible to the elderly they look after every day.

However, she says the Aged Residential Care sector is not adequately funded to support our nurses and health care assistants in caring for our residents and patients with complex health needs.

"With the amount of new people we have coming in, we’re rushing and that’s not something we want."

NZNO and allied union E tū are campaigning for safe workloads and mandatory safe staffing requirements in Aged Care, and Ms Tomkinson says this is really important.

"We are facing a grave shortage of nurses and carers wanting to work in Aged Care while many are leaving for better wages and conditions in the DHB sector. Government funding needs to be sufficient to deliver pay parity with DHBs to attract and retain nurses into the workforce now and into the future.

"At the end of the day, we just want to provide the best care to our patients. They’re our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, and grandparents; they deserve the best. We owe it to them to do that by improving pay and conditions and providing safe staffing levels so they can have the care they deserve."

This International Day of Older Persons is a positive way to celebrate and acknowledge the lived experience of older people in our community, especially when they are now requiring more care and support than ever before.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 30 September 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes Immigration Minister Hon Kris Faafoi’s one-off residence pathway for working migrants currently living in Aotearoa New Zealand announced today.

An estimated 5000 of these are health and aged care workers, and NZNO Industrial Services Manager Glenda Alexander says this will be good news for them and a step towards retaining our current nursing workforce.

“Many internationally qualified members of NZNO are frustrated with current immigration settings and some are leaving or have left Aotearoa New Zealand as a result.

“Removing uncertainty and providing a clear pathway to permanent residence will help address this exodus at a time when we are facing a crucial shortage of nursing professionals.”

Ms Alexander wrote to Hon Kris Faafoi on behalf of NZNO earlier this month on the very issue of permanent resident status for internationally qualified health care workers. She says that while the announced pathway addresses many of the concerns NZNO raised, more needs to be done about reuniting these workers already here with their families and loved ones still overseas.

“We are pleased that partners and dependents can also be included in applications for permanent residence if they are already living here.

“What we’d like to see is pathways opened up into the country for more internationally qualified nursing staff who want to live here permanently and for the same opportunity to be extended to their families.

“We are critically short of nurses at a time when we need them most, and it is unfair and counter-productive that they be required to work here while isolated and without support from close family.”

However, Ms Alexander said that while immigration was an important short-term solution to having a sustainable nursing workforce here, she agreed with Hon Kris Faafoi that employers must also find ways to build their workforces by attracting and retaining local workers.

“We need to contribute to nursing on a global scale by also encouraging New Zealanders into the nursing workforce. There is a lack of nurses in almost every country so taking health professionals away from other places where they are needed is not a workable solution long-term.

“We look forward to working with Government and employers on large scale nursing recruitment, and on making the nursing profession a more attractive career option in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 24 September 2021.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisaton's (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere, Kerri Nuku, is concerned that the Māori Health Authority (MHA) and Health New Zealand (Health NZ) boards lack representation for nurses, kaimahi hauora, midwives, rongoā practitioners or health care assistants, as well as any clear union presence.

"We welcome the members of both Boards and trust they bring some valuable experience," Ms Nuku says. "However, it is really disheartening to see no nurse representation on either, and especially no Māori nurse representation for the Māori Health Authority after all our efforts to push for transformation in this space.

"Many of those WAI 2575 claimants were courageous enough to challenge policy and practice, and yet are not represented here either.

"Similarly, its our health unions that keep the government accountable and push for better work conditions which the ministry explicitly acknowledges must improve. We need a strong union presence for our workers who are, after all, at the heart of this change."

Ms Nuku says that there is a significant opportunity for system change, and that its time for nurses to be taken seriously to plan for that.

"As nurses and unionists, we are system thinkers. We understand how economics and politics impacts our communities, we understand the needs of our communities and we know the realities of workers on the ground.

"Over the past thirty years health policy has been dictated by corporate interests, and dominated by medical professionals and we really have a chance to change how we do things. To rethink health provision that isn’t run like a business, and to work alongside, rather than under, medical professionals for the good of Aotearoa.

"If Health NZ is responsible for the day to day running of the health system, and the MHA is focused on tailored health services for Māori, our expertise will clearly be instrumental to achieve these intentions.

"It’s time that decisions aren’t made on our behalf, but that we are actively part of decision making. We urge both Minister Little and Minister Henare to meet with us to address this oversight." 

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 23 September 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has supported staff working at the Hastings Hospital Emergency Department to issue a Provisional Improvement Notice (PIN) to Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB) for failing in its primary duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

PINs legally require an employer or service provider to address a health and safety issue before a certain time.

NZNO organiser Sue Wolland says issuing the PIN became necessary because repeated attempts to escalate concerns about dangerous working conditions that threaten patient safety have been ignored or minimised.

“Staff are working under incredible pressure which is severely impacting their physical and mental health. The department is well beyond capacity every day which means staff are unable to respond to people needing emergency care in the time required to best ensure their wellbeing.”

Ms Wolland said issues included: patients being ‘housed’ in inappropriate or hazardous places such as corridors; dangerous delays in triage and assessment; seriously unsafe and inadequate staffing levels; nurses too overworked to take meal and other breaks; patients missing out on essential care; increased risk of error; and staff feeling unsafe and anxious while at work.

“ED staff, including those in leadership, have repeatedly raised these concerns with the DHB and minor solutions have been proposed that never seem to eventuate. Our members have made these approaches in good faith, but sustained lack of progress has been the tipping point for issuing this PIN.

“What we have here is a serious or sentinel event just waiting to happen, resulting in avoidable patient death and the potential end to nursing careers.

“These concerns need to be urgently addressed, including contingency plans to cover staff sickness and to ensure staffing meets levels required for safe and acceptable standards of patient care.”

She said the PIN was issued on Monday 21 September and that the DHB was required to comply by 5 October. PINs can only be issued by trained health and safety representatives when other avenues to address a serious area of concern have been exhausted.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 23 September 2021 

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is pleased to announce that the 2021 NZNO Award of Honour (presented every two years) has been awarded to Waikato-based nurse Leonie Metcalfe.

The prestigious Award of Honour recognises long-standing NZNO members who have helped make the organisation what it is today. This year’s recipient is Leonie Metcalf, a passionate, lifelong advocate for NZNO, and especially for enrolled nurses.

In putting Ms Metcalfe forward, her nominator, present chairperson of the NZNO Enrolled Nurses Section Robyn Hewlett, said, "She has enabled nurses to feel proud of being a nurse through her enthusiasm, and her energy has provided impetus to others to become involved and take part in their organisation."

Ms Metcalfe trained as a registered community nurse at Wairoa Hospital. After moving to Waikato in 1982 she worked as an enrolled nurse for 35 years before retiring in 2021.

Over her time Ms Metcalfe chaired both the Midlands Regional Enrolled Nurse Section and the national Enrolled Nurse Section NZNO where she worked to elevate the status of enrolled nurses in all areas.

Ms Metcalfe was also an active delegate engaged in bargaining as well as sitting on groups including the Waikato District Health Board Bipartite Action Group (BAG) NZNO/DHB as well as sitting on the joint NZNO/PSA/DHB Nurses Pay Equity Working Group and NZNO’s work around pay equity.

In her retirement she remains an outspoken advocate, raising awareness about the impact of unhealthy buildings on health care workers.

The award was presented at the virtual NZNO AGM on 16 September. 

New Zealand Nurses Organisation Media Release September 22, 2021.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s (NZNO’s) annual Young Nurse of the Year Award was presented to Daniel Mataafa at the organisation’s online Annual General Meeting on 16 September.

Mr Mataafa, of Samoan whakapapa, is a 29-year-old Regional Pacific Nurse Case Manager based at Middlemore Hospital. His nominators said he has earned a reputation for providing outstanding, holistic care and for “working tirelessly to ensure every patient, staff and carer interaction meets Te Tiriti principles”.

His nominators described how “he goes above and beyond what was expected in order to ensure patient journeys are seamless, respectful and safe” and that they have witnessed nursing professionalism of a standard they have not seen in such a young nurse.  

They also laud Mr Mataafa for his courage and resilience in breaking through the stigma of being a Samoan male nurse and using his experience to support other young Pasifika men.

Mr Mataafa says he was lost for words and humbled when he learned he had received the award.

“When I got the call from NZNO I was speechless. I had to take my break early to let it sink in. I feel really honoured, but deep down I know any of the nominees deserve it too.”

Mr Mataafa says he is proud of being able to build resilience and adapt to carry on doing the work he does. He also highlights that he’s grateful to work alongside such a good team of people.

“Among them I’m supported to keep developing myself so I in turn can offer the best support and care I can to my community here.”

Mr Mataafa was chosen from 20 nominations. The judging panel consisted of Margie Apa representing all District Health Boards, the NZNO Kaiwhakahaere, Chief Executive and nursing staff, NZNO Nursing Education Research Foundation member Melinda Jordan and 2020 winner Kelly Talbot.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 20 September 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is pleased to welcome President Elect Anne Daniels and new Vice President Elect Nano Tunnicliff to its leadership team. Daniels and Tunnicliffe were elected to their positions by members in voting which closed on 10 September.

The new pair will officially join existing Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku and existing Tumu Whakarae Titihuia Pakeho to form NZNO’s new leadership team on 11 October. Nuku and Pakeho were also confirmed in their positions in the recent Board elections. Both stood unopposed.

Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said the last year has been a good one for NZNO with a strong Board united in its leadership, growing member numbers and an effective, well-supported, member-driven NZNO/DHB MECA campaign.

“We are particularly proud to have reached a 4000 Māori member milestone, and of the organisation’s work towards becoming bi-cultural.

“We look forward to working with our new leadership members for the benefit of all nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora in Aotearoa New Zealand, and for the wellbeing of our health system and people.”

Anne Daniels is a senior nurse in the emergency department at Dunedin Hospital. Nano Tunnicliff is a registered nurse at Kenepuru Hospital in Porirua.

In her acceptance speech to the NZNO AGM on 16 September President Elect Anne Daniels said she was proud of the growing visibility and strength of NZNO members and the union to “stand up and act on the challenges we are all facing.”

She also passed her thanks and respect to Vice President Tracey Morgan who has been Acting President this year and who will step down from her leadership role on 11 October.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation media release, 15 September 2021

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes the Nursing Safe Staffing Review, and specifically the effectiveness of the implementation of ‘Care Capacity Demand Management (CCDM)’ at all Aotearoa New Zealand DHBs.

The review was confirmed by Minister of Health Andrew Little in his opening address to the NZNO conference this morning.

Under an Accord agreed between NZNO and the Ministry of Health in 2018, this implementation was promised to be in place by June 2021 but around half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s DHB’s do not yet have CCDM fully in place. This has been a significant issue for members of NZNO.

Hilary Graham-Smith will chair the nursing advisory group, which will also include Dr Rhonda McKelvie, Dr Jill Clendon and Kapua Quinn who each bring a deep understanding of the nursing profession and the staffing concerns it faces.

NZNO looks forward to engaging with the nursing advisory group and to providing its views on the effectiveness and implementation of CCDM.

NZNO is also pleased to hear the Minister acknowledge this morning that the people who work in the health system have been under pressure for a long, long time, and that dealing with the nursing shortage is a high priority for the Government.

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Media inquiries: Rob Zorn, NZNO Media and Communications Advisor: 027 431 2617.